Managing innovation uncertainties : a user-oriented knowledge typology

New product development processes are subject to uncertainties. These uncertainties can and should be managed to prevent innovations from failing. Uncertainties or knowledge deficits are addressed by deploying the right approaches, or learning activities to stimulate relevant inflows of knowledge. A typology of user-oriented knowledge types is key to overcome the reluctance of organizations towards multi-actor involvement and user-oriented learning activities. Here, we present a user-oriented knowledge typology departing from the end-user, embedded in a two-states framework (current state opposing future state). We discuss three iterations of the framework, including an expert review and real-world application as part of a workshop with intermediary organizations. When implemented, the framework enabled participants to identify and select learning activities enriching their innovation project. We want to underline our vision to transcend the gut-feeling and experience-driven allocation of learning activities, but instead strive towards optimal activity-selection based on the knowledge deficit at hand

Quasidimensional modeling of reacting fuel sprays using detailed chemical kinetics

2016 Fall.Includes bibliographical references.Since its invention in the late 1800s, the internal combustion engine has been indispensable to society for motive transport at all scales worldwide. Despite growing concern about the environmental damage caused by the pervasive use of these engines, no compelling alternative has yet emerged that matches the internal combustion engine's robustness, versatility, and high power-to-weight ratio. Consequently, as requirements on engine designs continue to increase to meet new emissions and efficiency standards, there is a strong need for computationally efficient and accurate predictive modeling of complex engine combustion processes. This work presents an efficient approach to direct injection engine combustion simulation that uses detailed chemical kinetics with a quasidimensional fuel spray model. Instead of a full multidimensional approach that solves continuity, momentum, energy, and chemistry equations simultaneously over a fine grid, the spatial information is greatly reduced and modeled phenomenologically. The model discretizes the fuel spray into independent parcels that entrain air from the surroundings and account for liquid fuel vaporization. Gas phase species concentrations and heat release in each parcel are calculated by detailed chemical kinetic mechanisms for the fuel under consideration. Comparisons of predicted pressure, heat release, and emissions with data from diesel engine experiments show good agreement overall, and suggest that spray combustion processes can be modeled without calibration of empirical constants at a significantly lower computational cost than with standard multidimensional tools. The new combustion model is also used to investigate spray structure and emissions trends for biodiesel fuels in a compression ignition engine. Results underscore the complex relationships among operational parameters, fuel chemistry, and NOx emissions, and provide further evidence of a link between stoichiometry near the flame lift-off length and formation of NOx. In addition, fuel molecular structure is demonstrated to be a significant factor in NOx emissions, but more robust chemical kinetic mechanisms and soot models for biodiesel are likely needed for improved predictive accuracy in modeling alternative fuels

Deformation and fluid flow in the Huab Basin and Etendeka Plateau, NW Namibia

The Lower Cretaceous Twyfelfontein sandstone formation in the Huab Basin in NW Namibia shows the effects of volcanic activity on a potential reservoir rock. The formation was covered by the Paraná-Etendeka Large Igneous Province shortly before or during the onset of South-Atlantic rifting. Deformation bands found in the sandstone trend mostly parallel to the continental passive margin and must have formed during the extrusion of the overlying volcanic rocks, indicating that their formation is related to South-Atlantic rifting. 2D-image porosity analysis of deformation bands reveals significant porosity reduction from host rock to band of up to 70 %. Cementation of the sandstone, linked to advective hydrothermal flow during volcanic activity, contributes an equal amount to porosity reduction from host rock to band when compared to initial grain crushing. Veins within the basaltic cover provide evidence for hot fluid percolation, indicated by spallation of wall rock and colloform quartz growth, and for a later low-temperature fluid circulation at low pressures indicated by stilbite growth sealing cavities. Sandstone samples and veins in the overlying volcanic rocks show that diagenesis of the Twyfelfontein sandstone is linked to Atlantic rifting and was affected by both hydrothermal and low-thermal fluid circulation

Assessing the Economic and Social Impact of Tax and Transfer System Reforms: A General Equilibrium Microsimulation Approach JRC Working Papers in Economics and Finance, 2017/9

We present a general-equilibrium behavioural microsimulation model designed to assess long-run macroeconomic, fiscal and social consequences of reforms to the tax and transfer system. The behaviour of labour supply is assessed along both the extensive and intensive margins, by merging the discrete choice and the elasticity of taxable income approaches. General-equilibrium feedback effects are simulated by embedding microsimulation in a parsimonious macro model of a small open economy. We estimate and calibrate the model to Hungary, and then perform three sets of simulations. The first one explores the impact of personal income tax reductions that are identical in cost but different in structure. The second one compares three different tax shift scenarios, while the third one evaluates actual policy measures between 2008 and 2013. The results suggest that while a cut in the marginal tax rate of high-income individuals may boost output, it does not have a significant employment effect. On the other hand, programs like the Employee Tax Credit do have a significant employment effect. We find that the policy measures introduced since 2008 substantially increase income inequality in the long run; the contribution of the changes after 2010 are about four times that of the changes before 2010. Our results highlight that taking account of household heterogeneity is crucial in the analysis of the macroeconomic effects of tax and transfer reforms.JRC.B.1-Finance and Econom

UV-Vis Spectra-Activated Droplet Sorting for Label-Free Chemical Identification and Collection of Drople

We introduce the UV-vis spectra-activated droplet sorter (UVADS) for high-throughput label-free chemical identification and enzyme screening. In contrast to previous absorbance-based droplet sorters that relied on single-wavelength absorbance in the visible range, our platform collects full UV-vis spectra from 200 to 1050 nm at up to 2100 spectra per second. Our custom-built open-source software application, "SpectraSorter," enables real-time data processing, analysis, visualization, and selection of droplets for sorting with any set of UV-vis spectral features. An optimized UV-vis detection region extended the absorbance path length for droplets and allowed for the direct protein quantification down to 10 μM of bovine serum albumin at 280 nm. UV-vis spectral data can distinguish a variety of different chemicals or spurious events (such as air bubbles) that are inaccessible at a single wavelength. The platform is used to measure ergothionase enzyme activity from monoclonal microcolonies isolated in droplets. In a label-free manner, we directly measure the ergothioneine substrate to thiourocanic acid product conversion while tracking the microcolony formation. UVADS represents an important new tool for high-throughput label-free in-droplet chemical analysi

Stereophotogrammetric approaches to multi-segmental kinematics of the thoracolumbar spine: a systematic review

Spine disorders are becoming more prevalent in today's ageing society. Motion abnormalities have been linked to the prevalence and recurrence of these disorders. Various protocols exist to measure thoracolumbar spine motion, but a standard multi-segmental approach is still missing. This study aims to systematically evaluate the literature on stereophotogrammetric motion analysis approaches to quantify thoracolumbar spine kinematics in terms of measurement reliability, suitability of protocols for clinical application and clinical significance of the resulting functional assessment